Nat'l GOP takes a page out of Kevin DeWine's playbook

In their weekly radio address this weekend, Democrats featured 12 year old Graeme Frost, a SCHIP recipient from Maryland. Frost and his family were in a severe car accident, and SCHIP is credited with providing the coverage that saved both Frost and his sister. The right-wing, terrified that Democrats would succeed in putting a human face on the SCHIP program, immediately went on the war path. In true Kevin DeWine fashion, they decided to smear a 12 year old.

First they tried to show that the kid was actually loaded and that his family was just scamming the system. It was a move reminiscent of Ronald Reagan's non existent Welfare Queens. After all, Graeme and his sister attend private schools costing at least $40,000 per year right? Wrong. Graeme's school costs about $15k per year and he is on a financial need scholarship. He pays $500 per year to attend school. His sister's private schooling, necessary due to brain damage she suffered during the accident, is paid for by the state of Maryland.

Then they went after his parents. What about that luxurious house the Frosts' own? It was bought for $55,000 some 16 years ago in a neighborhood that was neither wealthy nor particularly safe at the time. But, but, what about the family income, sputtered the now panicked right wingers? The Frosts' combined income was $45,000 last year. It has never exceeded $55,000 per year. Yeah, they're really rolling in the dough. The state of Maryland assessed the family and found their children eligible for SCHIP coverage. Michelle Malkin, the personification of all things evil, even stalked the family at work and at home looking for some kind of gotcha moment.

So if you ever wonder why I won't let up about Dennis Kucinich's vote against SCHIP, it is because of stories like this. This bill is one the most important pieces of legislation to pass through Congress this year, and it represents one of the few opportunities to really stick to Bush and the far right. 25 votes is not an impossible hurdle, especially if the errant eight Democrats are brought back on board. Here in Ohio, the pressure stays on until we hear the words "I will vote to override the President's veto" come out of DK's mouth.

(HT to Think Progress for reporting the smear and doing some awesome counter research)